Leaders of the Centrist Democratic Party (PDC) have committed to subscribe to Rwanda chapter of Pan-African Movement (PAM) to promote Pan-Africanism.

Agnes Mukabaranga, the party president, said they are committed to embrace PAM ideology as they take its virtues as the party broadens its objectives of promoting cohesion among Rwandans.

"For our party, we strive to promote unity and cohesion among Rwandans but this movement goes beyond that as it touches all parts of the globe seeking to promote African identity,” she said.

"It is important for us to embrace the movement because it adds African identity to the Rwandan identity, which strengthens unity not only among Rwandans but all Africans.”

Pan-Africanism is an ideology that encourages the solidarity of Africans worldwide based on the belief that unity is vital for economic, social, and political progress and aims at "unifying and uplifting” people of African descent.

Speaking during training of the party’s leadership, Dr Médard Rutijanwa, a member of PAM’s national mobilisation committee, said political organisations can play a significant role in promoting Pan-Africanism.

"With the Pan-African Movement, we want to have an Africa for Africans. As political organisations leaders, we want you to urge your members to embrace the movement so that we can all join efforts to develop the continent as Africans,” Rutijanwa said.

"Once your members are engaged, we will have the real Pan-Africanism that can eventually lead to full liberation of Africa.”

To effectively decentralise and mobilise citizens toward ownership of the movement, members of PAM-Rwanda are recruited within various groups, including women and youth, the private sector and civil society, faith-based organisations and trade unions, as well as media and arts.

Bishop Déo Gashagaza, a commissioner at the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, urged party leaders to encourage their members to uphold and promote Rwandan and African identity at large wherever they may be across the globe.

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